Apparatus for fitting shoes to feet



April 1943- D. F. HYLAND EI'AL 2,317,913

APPARATUS FOR FITTING SHOES TO FEET Filed March '13, 1941 -6 Sheets-Sheet 1 p 1943- A D. F. HYLAND EI'AL APPARATUS FOR FITTING SHOES TO FEET Filed March 13, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2v Apnl 27, 1943. D. F. HYLAND ET AL APPARATUS FOR FITTING SHOES To FEET 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zia April 27, 1943. D. F. HY LAND EI'AL 2,317,913

I APPARATUS FOR FI TTING SHOES TO FEET 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 a Z a J wfls mw My n/ k n e kflwn n WW I. a a W H 1' OJ .m w mm w WW M 7 H M1 n? W v 9 MW mm April 1943- D. F. HYLAND ETAL ABPARATUS FOR FITTING snows TO FEET 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 13, 1941 April 9 D. F. HYLAND EIAL I 2,317,913

APPARATUS FOR FITTING SHOES T0 FEET I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 13, 1941 Joli/7 I I I 1 III III I.

vllllllllil Ill LAN Ux Patented Apr. 27, 1943 APPARATUS FOR FITTING SHOES T FEET Daniel F. Hyl'an'd, John C. Stiles, Hugo L. Brenner, and John Brenner, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Arch-Q-Graph Company, St. Louis, Mo., a. corporation of Missouri f Application March 13, 1941, Serial No. 383,092

Claims:

This invention pertains to apparatus for fitting shoes to feet and is adapted for carrying out the methods described in our c'opending application Serial No. 344,458, filed July 8, 1940.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby a model of the plantar surface of the foot may be taken with the foot in the same position that it normally occupies in a shoe when the wearer is standing, and forming from the model so taken 'off and from the Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the gauge bar of Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawings, theapparatus illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 comprises a supporting base I of any suitable form, which is provided with a movable platform or rack 2 upon which the model of the foot sole may be mounted, a second rack or support 3 upon which the a shoe to be fitted may be mounted, and a holder shoe which is to be fitted to the foot. a lift, said 57::

lift being so dimensioned as to occupy the space represented by the differences between the form of the inside sole surface of the shoe and the form of the plantar surface of the foot.

Another object is to provide such apparatus particularly adapted to take off an accurate model of a foot in the position occupied in a high-heeled ladys shoe.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus whereby a lift may be formed from the foot model and the shoe, but in inverted'relation, so that the finished lift may be reinverted before placing in the shoe;

Further objects will appear from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, selected for illustration and explanation, said description being taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a plan view of an apparatus for forming lifts embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a left-hand side view, partly in section, of the apparatus of Figure 1, but with the foot model device in place and adjusted'for use;

Figure 3 is a front View of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 before adjusting to operating position;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device for taking off a model of the plantar surface of the foot;

Figure 5 is a side view of the device of Figure 4,

3. the model device but showing the same in adjusted position for tak ng a model of the foot;

Figure 6 is a detail of one of the feelers used in the model-taking device;

Figure '7 is an end view of a support for mounting the device of Figure 5 in position to take a indicated generally at 4 for the lift-blank. Suitable means may be provided, which will be described more in detail hereinafter, for properly positioning upon the'supports 2, 3, and 4 the foot model, the shoe, and the lift-blank, so as to hold these devices in a predetermined relation with each other.

Mounted in the rearward portion of the base I is a carriage 5 carried on rollers 6, running on tracks I. The lower face of each track I may be provided with a rack 8 engageable by pinions 9 on opposite ends of a shaft [0 journaled in the carriage 5. The shaft l0 provides a cross-connection between the racks 8, by which the carriage 5 is maintained in its original alignment, and so as to remain parallel to its original position at all points of its travel. The carriage 5 has journaled therein a shaft II, which has fixed thereto a bracket l2 carrying an upright spindle Pivoted on the spindle l3 for horizontal swinging movement is anarm l4 extending over thesupport 2, upon which the foot model is mounted. The arm [4 has mounted thereon on its front end a downwardly extending follower bar I5 adjustable vertically with respect to the arm l4 and equipped at its lower end with a ball tip lfi'adapted for engagement with the model on the support 2'. This structure is such that the bracket l2 carrying with it the arm l4 may hinge on the shaft 1 I so as to permit vertical movement of the follower bar I5, while at the same time the arm l4 may swing horizontally on the spindle l3 so as to permit lateral movement of said follower bar. A fore and aft movement of the follower bar is permitted by movement of the carriage 5 along the tracks 1. This structure, therefore, provides for'moving the follower in all directions over a three-dimensional model mounted on the support 2.

Also fixed upon the shaft ll adjacent its other end is a bracket l1 carrying an upright spindle [8 upon which is mounted for horizontal swinging movement an arm I9 carrying at its end a forming element of any suitable type for performing a shaping operation upon a lift blank in the holder 4. In the embodiment illustrated, the

embodiment illustrated the belt 24 is crossed be-" tween the pulleys and is secured to each pulley by any suitable means such as a screw 25. The belt 24 is preferably a steel strip pulled taut between the pulleys, and functions to swing the arm l9 laterally in accordance with the lateral movement of the arm I4. By virtue of the crossed belt the movement of the arm I9 is reversed with respect to that of the arm H for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter. The arms l4 and I9 are preferably provided on the rear side of their pivots with counterweights 26 and 21, respectively.

Journaled in the carriage to the rear of the shaft H and substantially parallel thereto is a,- second'shaft 28, having fixed thereto a bracket 29 similar to the brackets l3 and I1 and carrying an upright spindle 30. Pivoted to swing .laterally on the spindle 30 is an arm.3l extending forcontrolled respectively by the two elements I6 wardly over the shoe rack 3 and equipped at its forward end with a stylus 32 adapted to engage the inside sole of a shoe in the rack 3. The arm 3| may also be provided with a counterweight 33 in rear of its pivot. A link 34, best shown in Figure 1, is connected by ball-and-socket joints to the arms I4 and 3|. This link 34 may be made adjustable as to its lengthby any suitable means such as screw sleeves 35. This link causes the arms l4 and 3| to move together in their lateral movement while permitting them to move inde pendently in the vertical direction.

Fixed to the shaft 28 at the right-hand end thereof (Figure '1) is an arm 36 (see Figure 9) which passes underneath the blank holder 4 and is pivoted at its outer end at 31 on a slide 38 which slides in a fore and aft direction on a rod 39 secured in brackets 4|] to the underside of the blank holder 4. By these connections the arm 36 serves to support the holder 4 and determine its elevation at'any time. The holder 4 is furthersupported by a parallel motion comprising links 4| and 42 pivoted at 43 and 44, respectively, to the holder 4, and at 45 and 46 to the base I. By this arrangement the links 4| and 42, of which there are two of each, as will be seen from Figures 1 and 9, serve to keep the holder 4 in level alignment while the arm 36 serves to determine its vertical position in accordance with that of the arm 3|.

The general operation of this part of the mechanism may be outlined roughly as follows: With a model of the sole of the foot mounted on the support 2 and-the shoe which is to be fitted to it mounted in the rack 3, a lift blank is secured in the holder 4. The details of these mountings will be more completely described hereinafter. The ends of the arms 3| and I4 carry, respectively, the stylus 32 and the follower |5 adapted to engage respectively the inner sole surface of the shoe and the surface of the model taken ofi the plantar surface of the foot. The fore-and-' aft motion of both feelers is synchronized by the fact that they are carried upon the carriage 5 so that they move together in the fore-and-aft :direction. Similarly, the arms 3| and I4 are connected by the link 34 so that their lateral swingand 32, will at any one time correspond to the same point of the sole on the model and on the shoe sole.

Movements of the follower H3 in the vertical direction are duplicated by the forming tool 2|. This follows, since movements of the arm |4 cause rotation of the shaft H, which in turn causes corresponding vertical movements of the arm |9 which carries the tool 2|. Similarly, vertical movements of the stylus 32 are carried It will be noted that the operation on the liftblank in the holder 4 constitutes in effect simultaneous forming operations upon both faces of the blank. If the holder 4 were held stationary and the arm 36 carried a formingtool similar to the tool 2|, it is easy to see that both upper and lower faces of the blank would be cut or otherwise formed at the same time, the upper face in a manner to correspond to the form of the model and the lower face to correspond with the form of the inner sole surface of the shoe. Accordingly, the resulting lift could be placed in the shoe and would be dimensioned at all points thereof to exactly the difference between the height of the model and the height of the sole of the shoe. However, in accordance with the present invention, the operation on the under-face of the lift blank as it rests in the holder 4 is modified to the extent that, instead of a cutting operation 'or one which changes the contour of that face of the blank, the holder is raised and lowered so that the elevation of that face as a whole is varied-in accordance with the height of the inner sole surface of the shoe at any given point, while the tool 2| operates on the upper-face in accordance with the height of the model at the corresponding point. Accordingly, the thickness of the lift at this point will be equal to the difference between those heights. The advantage of this is that it leaves one face of the lift fiat and makes it unnecessary to perform any operation thereon which will mar the surface of the blank on that face.

It will be noted, furthermore, that on account of the crossed relation of the belt 24, the arm l9 swings horizontally in the opposite direction to the movement of the arm l4. As a result of this arrangement, the upper face of the lift-blank,

as it rests in the holder, will be formed with its contour reversed or left-handed with respect to that of the model. Accordingly, when the blank is finished, it may be inverted and in the resulting position its contour will match that of the foot from which the model was taken. It will be seen that this arrangement makes it possible to maintain that face of the lift-blank which engages the foot in a smooth and unaltered condition. In fact, a sock lining or similar finish may be put upon that face of the blank before it is operated upon, and will serve to provide a finish for the inside of the shoe when th lift is finally secured therein, in inverted position with respect to the one that it occupied in the holder 4.

M odeZ take-017 mechanism In order to take off a model of the plantar surface of the foot, the mechanism shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 may be employed. A frame or box 41, having a bottom 48 and side and end walls 49, is provided with one or more clamp bars 50, one or both of which may be movable with respect to the bottom and end walls. And mounted in vertical position between the side and end walls of this box is a series of shiftable feeler elements These may be in the form of small square rods, such as shown in Figure 6, of any suitable material, such as steel or iron or even moldable plastic, and are positioned in parallel rows. as shown in Figure 4, and in engagement with each other so that they may be secured in shifted position by clamping. In order to provide for clamping these elements, one or more of the bars 50 may be lined with a thin layer 52 of cork or other yielding material, so that clampin pressure may be applied uniformly to the feelers. For this purpose clamping pressure may be exerted upon the movable side bars in any well-known manner, so as to clamp the elements 5|. Between the elements 5| and the bottom 48 is a pad of resilient material 54 such as sponge rubber (see F gure 2). It has been found that the sponge rubber material prepared for mattresses, and having recesses therein so as to provide a considerable range of yieldability, gives very satisfactory results for this purpose. The elements 5| rest individually upon this yieldabie material so that each may be depressed to any desired extent.

The model of the plantar surface of the foot is taken off by placing the foot upon the upper surface formed by the tops of all the elements 5| and placing just enough pressure upon the foot so as to depress these elements sufiiciently so that each is shifted in accordance with the shape of the foot at the point which it engages. When the elements have thus been shifted, they may be secured in shifted position by clamping by means of the screws 53. In order to locate the model surface with respect to other portions of the machine, foot-locating plates are provided in connection with the box 41. A heel-locating plate 55 is provided with arms 56 which are pivoted upon a transverse rod 57. An inner alignment plate 58 is also arranged to extend vertically along the inner surface of the foot so as to align the same longitudinally, the device shown in Figure 4 being arranged for taking a model of the right foot. Accordingly, when the foot is p aced with the heel against the plate 55 and the inner surface of the forward part of the foot against the plate 58, a model w ll be taken off which. while conforming with the shape of the foot, may aft-erward be located in the machine in proper correspondence with the shoe placed in the bracket 3.

Now, in order to provide what might be termed a zero level for the elements 5|, 2. stop plate 59 is placed below the elements 5| at a portion of the model where the heel impression is made. The plate 59 is provided with downwardly extending flanges 60 by means of which it may be pivoted at El on a bracket 62 secured to the bot tom 48. The pivot 6| fixes the level of that portion of the plate 59 just above it, while the plate may pivot so as to conform to the general slope of the heel surface when the impression is ma A thin layer 63 of rubber may be placed over the plate 59 so as to provide some resiliency in the elements 5| thereabove. The rubber pad 54is provided with a notch to pass around the bracket 62. As the forward limit of the lift is usually at the line where the ball of the foot begins, this -and 44 respectively, extending outwardly from the sides thereof. The pins 43 rest in slots 45 in sliding pivot-brackets 69 (hereinafter described), and the pins 44 rest on other surfaces of said brackets so as to support the plate 64 in general alignment with said brackets. The plate 64 may have its rear edge 65 cut at any suitable angle to conform to the shape of the ball of the foot. This plate 64 depresses the elements 5! therebelow so as in effect to get them out of the way and permit the ball of the foot to engage the plate 64, while other portions of the plantar su face engage the elements 5| which are moved into engagement with the foot under a resilient pressure by the pad 54. Accordingly, when the impression is thus being made, the height of the heel of the foot is controlled by the plate 59 and the height of the ball of the foot by the plate 64. Accordingly, the complete impression or model not only conforms to the shape of the foot, but also assumes a general inclination in the box 41 in accordance with the setting of these plates 59 and 64.

In order to avoid the necessity of using a lift blank of excessive thickness, it is desirable to align th blank with the general inclination of the surface of the model, or, vice versa, to align the model with the blank when mounted in the holder 4. At the same time, it is desirable to align the inside sole surface of the shoe in the.

same manner with reference to the lift blank in order that its ent re contour will fall within the limits of a blank of moderate thickness. In order to accomplish these purposes, provision is made for setting the model at approximately the same inclination as that of the sole surface of the shoe as it is mounted in the rack 3, and then adjusting both the shoe and the model so that their surfaces are generally on a level with the liftblank in the holder 4.

The arrangements for accomplishing this purpose. so far as the model is concerned, are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. A sub-base 66 is provided for the box 41, on which said box may be mounted at any adjusted inclinat on. The subbase 66 is provided with a pair of hor zontal rods ii! supported in suitable end brackets 68 on the sub-base '66. Mounted to slide along the rods 6'! are pivot brackets 69. Each of these brackets receives a pivot pin 10, which is also pivoted n a slide 1| arranged to slide on a pair of rods 12, secured in the end brackets 49 of the box 4'! and extending along the sides of said box, as will be seen from Figures 4 and 5-. Thus, by means of the pins 18 the box 4! is pivoted on the sub-base 5G. and the pivot may slide longitudinally both w th respect to the box and with res ect to the sub-base. The clamp screws 53 and 53a are carried by the slides H. At the forward end of the box 41 the end bracket 49 is provided with pivot bearings 13, receiving pivot pins 14, wh ch also engage similar pivot brackets 5 on an end support 1%. The support it is fixed in cantilever relation to a vertical rod or p llar 1?, slidabiy mounted in an upright guide 13. The pillar l1 may be fixed in the guide I9v by means of a clamping screw 19 whose inner end engages a groove 99 in th pillar. The inclination of the box 41 may be adjusted by raising the front end so as to cause the pillar 11 to slide vertically in its guide 18. At the same time, the box pivots at 19, while the pivot brackets 69 may slide along the rods 91. When the box has been adjusted to the desired inclination, the adjustment may be fixed by clamping the pillar 11 by means of the screw 19.

As the inclination to which the box 41 is adjusted, as just described, should be approximately the same as that of the inside sole surface of the shoe, gauging means are provided for taking off this inclination from the shoe and setting the box 41 in accordance therewith. 'Such gauging means are illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. A modeling rack 8I having platform 9 la of any suitable type is provided with an'upright heel stop 92 against which the shoe to be' fitted, shown in dotted lines at 83 in Figure '1, maybe placed. An upright column 84 is fixed on the platform 8 I and a bracket 85 is arranged to slide on the column 84. The bracket 95 has fixed therein a downwardly extending gauge pin 89 of a suitable fixed length. This pin may be set to engage the inside sole surface of the shoe 83 at a given point of th heel, as shown in Figure '7. Mounted to slide horizontally in the bracket 85 is a bar 91, which has removably mounted at its end a fitting 88. A second gauge pin 89 is arranged to be slidably adjusted in the fitting 88 and may be clamped in adjustment by a suitable clamp screw 99. The pin 89 may be bent, as shown at 9|, so as to clear the instep portion of the shoe, while the tip 92 of the pin is in vertical alignment with the upper straight shank portion thereof. The bar 81 may be provided with a scale, indicated at 93, to mark off the proper spacing between the pins 89 and 89 for different shoe sizes.

In taking off a gauge measurement by this device, th pin 86 is first set upon the heel surface, as already described. The bar 81 is adjusted in the bracket 85 to the proper shoe size by means of the scale 93. The pin 89 is then lowered until the tip 92 engages th inside of the sole, as shown in Figure '7, and this pin is then clamped by means of the screw 99. This adjustment provides a measurement on the pin 89 of the difierence in elevation between the sole and heel portions of the inside of the shoe corresponding to .the shoe size, as given on the scale 93. It will be seen that this gives a measurement of the average inclination of the shoe sole as indicated, for instance, by the line AB.

In order to transfer this measurement to the setting of the box 41, the fitting 88 is slipped off the bar 81 without loosening the screw 99. The pin 89 is then transferred to the box 91 and slipped onto the end of a pin 94 secured to one of the slides H, which is adjustable along the rods 12. This slide II is adjusted along the rods 12 until the pin 94 is spaced from the heel plate 55 on the box 41, a distance equal to the spacing of the pin 86 from the heel stop 82 minus the thickness of the shoe leather at that point. When so adjusted, the slide H is secured by a clamp screw 99. The other slide 1| (at the left, Figure is now adjusted along the rods 12 so as to space the pin 19 from the pin 94, a distance equal to the spacing between the pins 85 and 89 when on the gauging device, shown in Figure '7, and the slide is then secured by a clamp screw 91. The fitting 88 having been engaged with the pin 94, the gauge pin 89 is then brought into engagement with an index stop 98, the forward end of the box 41 being elevated until the gauge pin can be so set upon the stop 98. The stop 98 is spaced below the pivot 19 a distance equal to the length of the gauge pin 89. Accordingly, when this adjustment is made, the difference in elevation between the pins 94 and 19 will be the same as that between the tips of the pins 89 and 89 when gauging the shoe, as in Figure 7. Accordingly, when this adjustment has been made, the model surface will have the same general inclination as the line AB of Figure '7. When used in the lift forming apparatus in the manner just described, the fitting 88 and its associated pin 89 constitute means adjustable in accordance with the general inclination of the inner sole surface of the shoe for determining the inclination of the foot-sole modeling device. It will be noted that in this adjustment the plate 69 does not move with the box 41 but remains level soas to retain a position corresponding-to the forward portion of the sole of the shoe 83 which is engaged by the ball of the foot. This adjustment of the box 41 to the inclination of the shoe is preferably made before the impression of the foot is taken. This places the plate 94 and the heel plate 59 in proper relation to each other so that the foot impression may be taken by placing the heel against the plate 55, bringing the heel down until the pins 5I therebelow are stopped by the plate 59, and, at the same time, bringing the ball of the foot into engagement with the plate 64. The pins 5| may now be clamped, andwhen this is done, a correct model of the pantar surface of the foot will have been taken off. The heel plate 55 may pivot at 51 so that it may adjust itself to the position of the heel of the foot when the impression is made.

Shoe rack and leveling mechanism The base I is formed to provide an openhorizontal frame I99 surrounding the shoe rack 3 and having downwardly extended side walls I9I and I92. The shoe rack, which is indicated generally at 3, is part of a cradle having a horizontal portion I93 provided with a plate I94 adapted to support the heel of the shoe. In rear of the portion I93 this cradle is formed with an open frame portion I95, which is traversed by a pair of supporting rods I99 which extend thereacross in a fore-and-aft direction and are supported in the frame I95. Mounted to slide on the rods I99 is a sole-supporting plate I91 provided with laterally adjustable stops or guides I99, movable along a. rod I99. on the .plate .I91. These stops may be secured in any adjusted position by any suitable means, such as clamp screws H9. The shoe may be placed. with its heel upon the plate I 94 and the back surface engaging a heel stop III. The heel may be secured by means of one or more clamp arms IIZ, which are mounted on guide rods .II 3 slidable in vertical holes in the plate I93 and tensioned by springs H4, surrounding these rods and bearing upon heads H5 thereon to pull the clamp hooks downwardly to retain the shoe.

The forward part of the shoe may rest upon the plate I91, being positioned laterally by the stops I98, and secured in position by a strap IIB secured to the plate I91 and arranged topass over the toe of the shoe. This strap maybe resiliently tensioned by a spring III. -The heel of the shoe is centered against the heel plate III, the side of the heel being brought into engagement with one or the other of stops I25 on the frame I00, according to whether the shoe is a right or left shoe. The forward part is located between the stops 138 which are adjusted laterally to give the shoe the proper alignment, the adjustment shown in Figure 1 being for a right shoe.

The cradle I03 has mounted in brackets II thereon a pair of supporting rods II9. These rods are slidable in brackets I20, pivoted at I2I on the side walls IN and I02 of the main base. By this arrangement the cradle may pivot and slide with respect to the pivots I2I. The forward part of the cradle has mounted in lateral extensions thereof a pair of vertically extending guide rods I22 arranged to slide in rotary brackets I23 pivoted on the shanks of clamp screws I24, which also serve to clamp the rods I22 against sliding movement. These rods thus provide guides serving to maintain the heel plate III in a constant alignment with the frame I00 during any rocking movement of the cradle on the pivots I2I. During such rocking movement the cradle may move with respect to said pivots by sliding of the rod H9 in the brackets I20.

The cradle I03 has an angular arm I26 extending downwardly and then laterally to the left, Figure 3, passing through an opening I21 in the wall IOI. The horizontally extending portion of this arm is formed into a platform providing the model rack 2, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This platform is adapted to receive the sub-base 66, which may be secured in position thereon .by any suitable means such as a .clamp I28.

When a proper impression of the foot has been taken, as already described, and the shoe which is to be fitted to the foot is mounted in the rack 3, as just described, the inside sole surface of the shoe and the surface of the foot model .as set up in the box 41 are brought into general alignment. For this purpose the rack 3 and the cradle I03 are so constructed as to bring the plates I04 and I0! into alignment with the plate 64 of the model (allowing for the thickness of the shoe sole), while the heel plate III of the shoe rack is so positioned as to bring the inside surface of the shoe at this point into alignment with the heel plate of the model. However, in the position shown in Figure 5, these parts are not in alignment with the lift-blank in the holder 4. Accordingly, the cradle may now be rocked on the pivots I2I so as to bring these two surfaces into general alignment with the lift-blank. For this purpose a latch I29 is provided on the frame I00 positioned to engage and stop some portion of the box 47, such as the stud I30. When this adjustment is obtained, the inclination of the shoe surface as represented by the line AB of Figure 7 is brought into general alignment with the lift-blank, in the manner indicated in Figure 2, in which the relative position of the lift-blank is represented roughly by the dotted rectangle C.

Lift-blank holder The lift-blank is mounted in the holder 4. Any suitable-type of blank and blank holder may be used. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the lift-blank is indicated at I34. This blank may be constructed of cork or other suitable resilient, or semi-resilient. material. An effective form of blank is one .comprising a sheet of cork about one-half inch thick, faced on one side with a sheet of suitable fabric,

' thereto.

leather, or other material. This material is preferably such as to be able to withstand a moderate amount of tension, and the blank may be provided with anchoring elements I35 at its ends, adapted to be engaged by suitable holding devices mounted in the holder 4 and arranged to apply endwise tension to the blank. These anchoring devices may be secured to the fabric I Resume of operations In accordance with this invention, therefore, the fitting of a shoe to a foot may be carried out as follows: The shoe is first gauged by means of the gauging device, shown in Figures 7 and 8, so as to take off a gauge setting on the pin, 89, representing the general inclination of the shoe sole. The box 41 in which the model is to be taken off is then adjusted first by adjusting the slides 1| along the rods I2 in accordance with the shoe size in the same manner as the bar 81 was set according to shoe size. A scale I3Iv may be placed on one or both of the rods I2, or other suitable member for convenience in making this setting. The plate 64 having been placed into position, the gauge pin 89 may be applied to the pin 94 and the inclination of the box 4] set by resting said pin on the stop 98, after which the pillar TI is clamped in position by means of the screws 79, as already described. This sets the box 41 at the same general inclination as that of the shoe sole.

For convenience in making the impression, the sub-base 66 may be placed upon the rack BI, which will hold the box 41 in a convenient position for applying the foot to make the impression. The rack 81 is provided With an inclined platform I36, upon which the sub-base .66 maybe placed. The inclination of the platform I36 is preferably such as to set the box 41 at a convenient angle for applying the foot to be modeled An angle of about 30 to the horizontal has been found convenient. The end portion of the rack may be elevated and arranged to'provide the platform 8| upon which the shoe may "be placed so as to take the gauge measurements with the gauge 'bar 89, as already described. The foot to be fitted is then placed in engagement with the pins 5| with the heel against the heel plate 55 and the inside surface of the foot against the plate '58 and a side heel gauge I32, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, which represents a set-up for taking off a model of the right foot. The heel gauge I32 is mountable on eitherone of two pins I33, upstanding from the bars 50, ac-

cording to whether a right or a left foot is being modeled. When a model .of the left foot is to be placed into po-' be fitted. It will be noted that in taking off this model the position of the foot may be adjusted to such a normal position as the foot should have when wearing the shoe, and, accordingly, the lift will be formed to the shape of the model of the foot in such position. For this purpose the patient may sitbefore the rack 8| in such position that the lower leg extends substantially at right angles to the inclined platform. This places the foot and leg in the same position with respect to -said platform that they would have with respect to the ground when the patient is standing.

The shoe 83 is now transferred to the rack 3 andplaced in position with the heel on the plate Ill4and the inside of the heel against the stop I25. The forwardpart of the shoe will be located between the stops I08 and the inside of the heel against the stop I25 with the sole of the shoe placed to rest upon the plate I01. 7 The strap I I6 is passed over the toe of the shoe so as to hold the same in place, while'the'retaining arms 2 are let down upon the rear part of the shoe heel so as to clamp the same resiliently against the plate I04.

The sub-base 66, with the box 41 adjusted to its angular position, is now placed upon the platform 2 and suitably located and clamped in position thereon. The shoe and the foot model are now assembled upon the cradle in general alignment with each other. The cradle may now be rotated upon its pivots I2I until the stud I30 passes below the latch I29, to be located thereby, after which the cradle is clamped in position by means of the screws I24, which operate to clamp the rods I22 with respect to the frame IllIl.

In the embodiment illustrated a lift-blank made' of cork or of similar material is contemplated. Other materials may, of course, be used, and the type of forming operation may, of course, be adapted to the material of which the lift is made.

' With the shoe model and the lift-blank mounted in the machine, as described, the latter isthen operated as follows: The motor 20 is started running so as to operate the tool 2 I. In the embodiment illustrated, this is a cutting tool and the operation will be described according to the oper ation of such 'tool,it being understood, however,

that other types of forming elements may be employed with suitable modification in procedure. I The stylus 32 is placed into engagement with the inside sole surface of the shoe, starting at any convenient point such as the heel. The stylus is then manipulated by the operator so as 'to move its tip I52 over every portion of the inside sole surface.

It will be noted from Figure 10 that the stylus 32 has a bent shank so that its tip is offset with respect to the shank. This is in order to enable the tip to be inserted into the forward part of the shoe where the shoe upper would interfere with a straight shankh In order to make it possible to manipulate this feeler in all directions, the shank ismounted in a plate I53 secured to a shaft I54 journaled in a sleeve I55. The upper end of the shaft I54 has secured thereto a manipulating head I56. The sleeve I55 is threaded in a split bushing I5'I so as to be adjustable vertically in order to adjust the height of the tip I52. This adjustment may be secured by clamping the split bushing upon the sleeve by means of a clamping screw I58. The bushing I51 is adjustably mounted'upon a pivot I59 adjustments make "it possible to set the 'tip I52 on the arm-3L. These sagas into exact correspondence with the tip I6 of the follower bar I5.

The tip 'I 52 is then moved over the entire inner surface of the shoe sole. During such movement the link 34 will cause the arm I4 to move in an exactly corresponding manner over the surface of the model in the box 41. Accordingly, the tips I52 and I6 will always be at corresponding'points of the shoe sole and the model.

Now, as the follower. I6 'moves over the surface of the model, the arm I4 will becaused thereby to rise and fall according'to the height of the model surface. This rise and fall offthe arm I4 causes the shaft II to rock, and such movement of the shaft in turn causes the arm. I9 torise and fall in exact correspondence with the rise and fall'of the arm I4. Accordingly, the height of the forming tool 2| will always be in exact correspondence with the height of thefollow'er I6 and, therefore, with the height of the model surface at the point engagedby saidfollower. As the tool 2| operates upon the lift blank, the latter will be' cut or formed to a height corresponding exactly to the height of the model at the corresponding point thereof. As the follower I6 moves over the surface of the model, therefore, the tool 2| will operate to form the lift-blank to the same contour as that of the model.

As the stylus tip I52 moves over the sole surface of the shoe, its elevation changes inaccordance with the contour of that surface. The corresponding rise and fall of the arm 3| operates through the shaft 28 to cause a corresponding rise and fall of the arm 3B,which controls the height of the blank holder 4. Accordingly, at every point at which the tool 2| is operating, the height of the blank will correspond exactly with the height of the inside sole surface at the corresponding point thereof. It will be seen, therefore, that since at any given point of operation of the tool 2I the height of said tool corresponds with the height of the model surface, while the elevation of the blank corresponds to the height of the shoe sole surface,the thickness to which the lift is formed at that point will correspond to theQdiiference between said heights. This difference is exactly the difference between the contour. of the foot in normal position and the contour ofthe inside surface of the shoe. Accordingly, a blank will be formed so as to occupy exactly the space representing this difference betweenthe contour of the foot sole and the contour of the shoe sole.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, the tool 2| is shown asa cutting tool. Accordingly, the holder 4 is provided Witha downwardly extending connection I60 communicating with the suction pipe IBI, connected to a suction blower I62, adapted to carry off the cuttings. A suitable cover may be placed over the'holder 4 if desired to prevent the cuttings from being projected into the room.

As shown in Figure 11, the shafts 28 and I I may be provided, respectively, with downwardly extending arms I63 and IE4. One of these arms maybe provided atits lower end'with an ad- 'justable stop I 65 secured by a nut I66 and adapted to engage a stop face IBI on the other arm. This arrangement limit's'the rotation of the-shafts 23 and II in such a manner as to prevent the arms I9 and 36 from approaching close enough to each other. to cut entirely through the liftblank, Accordingly, a minimum thickness'is established belowwhich the tool 2 I will not'o'perate. Accordingly, the lift may be cut down practically to the sock liner without cutting through the same.

When the ilft has been properly formed, as above described, over the entire surface thereof, the same may be trimmed to the proper outline in accordance with the size of the shoe involved. When so formed, the lift may be treated with adhesive on the formed side and inverted and placed in the shoe to be secured therein. It will be recalled that by the operation of the crossed belt 2 3, the movement of the arms l4 and i9 is reversed with respect to each other, and, accordingly, the lift is formed in left-handed relation to the model. This relation is again reversed when the finished lift is inverted to be placed in the shoe, so that the correct lift for the right foot is obtained as a result.

While this invention has been described as embodied in a unitary apparatus, it will be understood that individual features or sub-combinations thereof may be found useful without other features or the complete combination.

It is understood, therefore, that the employment of such individual features or sub-combinations is contemplated by this invention when within the scope of the appended claims.

It is also pointed out that various changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention, and that therefore the invention is not limited to the specific details shown or described.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a foot-sole modeling device, supporting means for said device, means for adjusting said device on said supporting means so as to position its sole-modeling surface in accordance with the position of the foot sole when standing in a shoe having a heel, lift-forming means having a liftblank holder, a shoe holder, means for mounting said device assembled on its supporting means in cooperative relation with said shoe holder and said blank holder, means for positioning said mounting means and said shoe holder so as to position the modeling surface of said device and the inner sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder in accordance with the position of a blank in said blank holder, and control mechanism for said forming means having guiding means engaging said sole-modeling surface and the inside sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a foot-sole modeling device, a shoe holder, a liftblank holder, angularly adjustable means for mounting said device and said shoe holder in cooperative relation with said blank holder, means associated with said mounting means for angularly positioning said device and said shoe holder in accordance with the position of a blank in said blank holder, lift-forming means cooperatively associated with said blank holder, and control mechanism for said forming means having guiding means engaging the modeling surface of said device and the inside sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder.

3. In an apparatus of the character described,

holder in cooperative relation withsaid blank holder, means associated with said mounting means for positioning said modeling surface of said device and the inside sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder in accordance with the position of a blank in said blank holder, lift-forming means cooperatively associated with said blank holder, and control mechanism for said forming means having guiding means engaging the modeling surface of said device and the inside sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a foot-sole modeling device, a shoe holder, a liftblank holder, means for mounting said device and said shoe holder in cooperative relation to said blank holder including a cradle carrying said device and said shoe holder and adjustable to position the same to correspond with said liftblank holder, and lift forming means guided by said device and a shoe in said shoe holder to form a lift in said blank holder.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a foot-sole modeling device, means for gauging the inclination of the inside sole surface of a shoe, means cooperatively associated with said gauging means for adjusting said modeling device to a corresponding inclination, lift-forming means having a lift-blank holder, and means for positioning said modeling device, as adjusted, in accordance with the position of a blank in said holder.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a foot-sole modeling device, means for gauging the inclination of the inside sole surface of a shoe, a holder for the gauged shoe, means cooperatively associated with said gauging means for adjusting said modeling device to a corresponding inclination so as to position it to correspond with the position of the shoe in said shoe holder, lift-forming means having a liftblank holder, and means for positioning said modeling device and the shoe in said shoe holder to correspond with the position of a blank in said blank holder.

'7. In a machine of the character described for fitting shoes to feet having a lift-blank holder, forming means adapted to operate on a blank in said holder and control means for said forming means; a support having a shoe holder, means for receiving a foot-sole modeling device, and means for adjusting said shoe holder and said receiving means relatively to position the modeling surface of said device and the inside sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder to the same general plane, said support also having means for adjusting the same relatively to said blank holder to adjust said plane to that of said blank holder.

8. In an apparatus of the character described for fitting shoes to feet, a foot-sole modeling device, a shoe holder, a lift-blank holder, means for positioning said device with its modeling surface at the same general inclination as that of the inner sole surface of the shoe to be fitted in order that the foot impression is at the same inclination, means cooperating with said positioning means for mounting said device in cooperative relation with said shoe holder and said blank holder and with its modeling surface at the same general level as that of a lift-blank in said blank holder and the inner sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder, lift-forming means cooperatively associated with said blank holder, and control mechanism for said forming means having guiding means engaging the modeling surface of said device and the inner sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder.

9. In an apparatus of the character described for fitting shoes to feet, a foot-sole modeling device, a shoe holder, a lift-blank holder, means adjustable in accordance with the general inclination of the inner sole surface of the shoe for determining the inclination of the foot-sole modeling device, means for mounting said device in cooperative relation with said shoe holder and said blank holder cooperating with said adjustable means to adjust the modeling surface of said device to the same general level as that of a liftblank in said blank holder, lift-forming means cooperatively associated with said blank holder, and control mechanism for said forming means having guiding means engaging the modeling surface of said device and the inner sole surface of a shoe in said shoe holder.

10. In an apparatus of the character described for fitting shoes to feet, a foot-sole modeling device, a shoe holder, a lift-blank holder, means adjustable in accordance with the general inclination of the inner sole surface of the shoe for determining the inclination of the foot-sole modeling device, an angularly adjustable support for said device, additional means controlled by said adjustable means for setting said support angularly so as to position the modeling surface of said device in cooperative relation with said blank holder, lift-forming means cooperatively associated with said blank holder, and control mechanism for said forming means having guiding means engaging said modeling surface.

DANIEL F. HYLAND.

JOHN C. STILES. HUGO L. BRENNER. JOHN BRENNER. 

